California Dreaming

Memories & Visions of LA 1966-75, Photographs by Henry Diltz

Henry Diltz, Graham Nash & over 45 contributors

With over 500 photographs and a 96,000-word text from 48 legendary contributors, California Dreaming is not only a retrospective book of America's pre-eminent rock photographer, Henry Diltz, it is the defining record of an era, as told by those who were at its centre.

From Pete Seeger & The Kingston Trio to The Byrds, The Doors and Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, James Taylor and Neil Young, Henry Diltz knew and photographed them all. As a result, California Dreaming recounts a golden age in the LA music scene.

'F*cking fabulous!... If you've ever wanted to 'experience' the Sixties, this is the place to start your journey.... What a long, strange trip it was...' Graham Nash

The Photography

California Dreaming

Narrated by the stars he photographed, Diltz's limited edition book presents a wealth of previously unseen images alongside his most famous album cover shots.

'Morrison said, "There it is. Stop there. We're going inside and we're going to shoot the Hard Rock Cafe and we're going to have a couple of beers."' Ray Manzarek

'It didn't matter if you had a great place to live or not because often there was a tree outside and a window to look at the sky. And that was enough.' Jackson Browne

'I played a little too busy for Linda Ronstadt - she'd probably laugh about it. I played a busy bass and she didn't like it very much. She'd look over like "Grrrr".' Randy Meisner
'We had the times; we had the friendship; we had the songs; we had the energy.' Graham Nash

'There was a rock opera idea floating around for the Desperado album. We sort of saw ourselves as living outside the law, just like the guys we were writing about.' Glenn Frey

'I called Neil and spoke to his Mum and she said, "Oh Neil's broken up his band and apparently he wants to be the Bob Dylan of Canada. If you hear from him, tell him to call home."' Stephen Stills

'I first came to LA with David Crosby. He had a cassette of Magical Mystery Tour and we drove down sunset and up into the hills listening to it. For me, Laurel Canyon was like the elixir of life.' Joni Mitchell

The Manuscript

California Dreaming

Genesis has spent over three years collecting an extensive text of more than 96,000 words from 48 contributors.

It is a story told entirely by its key protagonists - the musicians, artists, label executives, friends and hangers-on - a text rich in personal anecdotes and observations, fascinating and frank first-hand accounts of the stories behind the photographs, the music, the times, the beliefs, hopes, disappointments and dreams of a generation. Above all it describes how some profound qualities of time and place nurtured a musical movement with an identifiable sound.

'James Taylor was one of the first signings to the Apple label with Derek Taylor - I'm a huge fan.' Gerry Beckley

'I didn't like Jimi setting his guitar on fire, or smashing his instruments, I was late in appreciating what he was doing.' Michelle Phillips

'Mama Cass had become friendly with Eric, who didn't really know anyone in town. Being the earth-mother type she was, she said, 'Well come over, and I'll invite some friends round'.' Henry Diltz

'I think California had a huge influence on the pop music scene, all the surfing, girls and cars were so idyllic - the Beach Boys weren't writing about some fantasy - this was real.' Dewey Bunnell

The Author

California Dreaming

The California Dreaming story begins in 1966 as Henry Diltz discovers the wonders of the photographic image and begins a life-long love affair with his camera.

As a folk musician living in Laurel Canyon and a friend to the musician elite, Henry was party to the burgeoning LA music scene and was able to capture the magic of a brief and bright moment in the history of rock music.

'Henry Diltz always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.' Robby Kreiger

He had unprecedented access to every one of his subjects, and his photographs, which include seminal album covers such as The Doors' Morrison Hotel and Crosby, Stills and Nash's eponymous debut, have come to define the era.

The Limited Edition

California Dreaming

'A book readers will get lost in... it is teeming with life.' Goldmine

Limited to an edition of only 2,000 signed and numbered books, each book in the Collector Edition features 96,000 words from 48 contributors as well as two forewords by Graham Nash and Kevin Miller. Over 500 photographs are printed into the edition using fine screen lithography alongside facsimile excerpts from Henry Diltz's journals.

'Back from our UK Tour...and I returned to find my copy of Henry's book! Fantastic! A great Genesis classic.' Dewey Bunnell

Finally the edition is housed in a unique tie-dye slipcase, reproduced from a vintage Californian sample made by John Sebastian. Each copy includes a limited pressing of Highway 70, (an archival-grade gold CD of songs by southern Californian artists, recorded by Henry Diltz's band The Modern Folk Quartet) then individually hand-numbered, and hand-signed by Henry Diltz

Box:Cloth-covered slipcase, reproduced from a vintage tie-dye sample created by John Sebastian

Extras:CD 'Highway 70'

Collector

£295

The inside story of California in the Sixties and Seventies by those who were there. From The Byrds to the Eagles, 50 leading artists provide a first hand account exploring the music and mythology of this golden era. Read on...

The inside story of California in the Sixties and Seventies by those who were there. From The Byrds to the Eagles, 50 leading artists provide a first hand account exploring the music and mythology of this golden era. Read on...

Page size: 310mm x 235mm

344 pages

96000 words

500 images

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The story of your book

Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.